1938 Mercedes-Benz 230 Cabriolet B (W 143)

This graceful two-door, four-seat 230 Cabriolet B presents in overall excellent condition and carries with it a fascinating history of nearly 70 years of single-family ownership. Mr. Georg Ziemer, who oversaw and taught at the American School in Berlin, purchased the car new in 1938. The Ziemer family enjoyed the “Old Gal” – as they affectionately dubbed this Cabriolet – on their numerous travels during 1938, including trips through Germany, to Holland, and Croatia.

In the fall of 1938, Mr. Ziemer was asked to report on the looming annexation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany and crossed the German-Czechoslovakian border in his Cabriolet just ahead of the German troops.

Anticipating all-out conflict in Europe, the Ziemers went back to the U.S. in 1939 and moved to Lake City, Minnesota. Their cherished Cabriolet followed on one of the last freighters that left Germany before the war. Due to his first-hand experiences in Germany, Georg Ziemer went on to become a journalist and commentator on European affairs. He eventually received a commission in the U.S. Army and served as a war correspondent with the 4^th Armored Division of General George S. Patton’s 3rd Army.

After the war, the Ziemer family again enjoyed their cherished Cabriolet on their many trips to the nearby lake and river, preferably with the top down. While usage of the car winded down over the years, it still frequented in the local summer parades until the passing of Mr. Ziemer in 1982 forced the car into long-term storage. Ziemer’s daughter Pat shipped the car to her home in Palos Verdes, California in 1993 and later gifted it to her daughter and son-in-low in Malibu.

While the car remained in robust condition due to its use only in summer climates, it was subsequently restored over an approximately 10-year period and completed by a renowned, Pebble-Beach class restorer in Los Angeles. In 2013, the car sold to renowned Mercedes-Benz collector Nelson Jones and has since been cared for by Mercedes-Benz Classic.

The “Old Gal” today presents in a beautiful bone and tan two-tone with burgundy leather interior configuration, chosen from the available 1937 factory color palette. The car is accompanied by the very detailed and comprehensive documentation that includes the original Bill of Sale and cover letter from 1938, an original license plate, “Der Deutsche Automobil-Club” (D.D.A.C.) radiator badge, a Loibl Pass radiator badge – a testament of the car’s journey through the Austrian Alps into Slovenia, original fitted luggage, an original repair manual, a mostly complete tool kit, original purchase literature and tags, original wheel rims, and a radiator cover. Numerous photographs from the car’s pre- and postwar life have also been kept with the car, along with 1938-vintage California license plates, touch-up paint, and a custom car cover.

With its incredibly eventful journey through history, this 1938 230 Cabriolet B is an excellent opportunity for any discerning automotive collector.